Trust, transparency, and the delicate balance of charitable giving
Last week, listening to Radio 4, I was struck by the Charity Commission’s damning report about Captain Sir Tom Moore’s foundation – a story that begins with an inspirational national hero and ends with a profound betrayal of public trust.
Captain Sir Tom Moore created a legacy built on hope and resilience by raising an incredible £38.9m for NHS Charities during the first COVID-19 lockdown. His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin have arguably now tarnished that legacy by refusing to return any of the £1.4m received from his book deal to the Captain Tom Foundation.
The Charity Commission’s findings are unequivocal. They identified a “pattern of behaviour” where the family repeatedly blurred boundaries between personal interests and charitable responsibilities. The report highlighted “repeated failures of governance and integrity”, with the family benefitting significantly from the foundation established in Captain Sir Tom’s name.
As David Holdsworth from the Charity Commission powerfully stated, the public and the law “rightly expect those involved in charities to make an unambiguous distinction between their personal interests and those of the charity and the beneficiaries they are there to serve.”
For those of us working in charitable funding, this isn’t just a news story – it represents a huge risk of eroding public confidence in charities at a time when they can least afford it. The charitable sector is repeatedly being relied upon to provide crucial support to communities to help them through the cost of living crisis at a time when they are under immense pressure themselves. Stories of personal enrichment, such as that of the Captain Tom Foundation, threaten to discourage donors and supporters.
At Community Foundation Wales, we’ve just closed our most recent funding round for the Principality’s Future Generations Fund, receiving over £5m in grant requests against a £500k budget. Each of these applications represents real community needs, real hopes, real potential. The £5m in requests against £500k isn’t just a statistic. It’s a reflection of the economic pressure cooker we’re living in. Families, community groups, local initiatives – all stretching, all hoping, all needing support.
The report that came out today highlights why our approach at Community Foundation Wales matters.
We don’t just verify that organisations can deliver on their applications. We validate their commitment to community, their understanding of genuine need, and their integrity. Our rigorous checks aren’t bureaucratic hurdles – they’re a commitment. We ensure that every organisation we support is transparent, accountable, and genuinely committed to serving their communities. The Captain Tom Foundation, which is no longer actively seeking donations, stands as a cautionary tale. It reminds us that a charitable legacy is not built on a single heroic act, but on consistent integrity, transparency, and genuine commitment to serving others.
At Community Foundation Wales, we don’t just manage funds. We nurture hope. We protect trust. And we remain committed to ensuring that every penny we distribute is a penny that genuinely serves our communities.
